Introduction
Rose Margaret Piercy Nee Hooker born 30th October 1928
Wife to Francis (Frank)
Mum to Janice, Deborah, Denise and Julie
Nan to Jemma, James and Jessica, Joel and Carly, Louise and Adam
Home and Family
Rose was born in Euston London to a working class family the youngest of 7 Children.
the family moved several times until they ended up in Camden Town. One of her sisters, Nellie, was disabled after an illness and Rose looked after her through their childhood.
During the war Rose was evacuated twice first to Bedford and then to Boughton Northamptonshire.
Rose was married to Frank in 1952 and they lived in a house in Camden Town which they shared with her Mum and Brother, Joey.
In 1956 Janice was born soon followed by the twins Deborah and Denise in 1957
In 1961 Frank changed Water Companies to Lee Valley and the family moved to a cottage in Redricks Lane Sawbridgeworth
Julie was born in 1967
Soon after this the family moved to Cutforth Road, Sawbridgeworth where Rose lived until last November when she moved into Layston.
Work
Rose started work aged 14 at an engraving firm for 3 years she then moved to HMSO where she learnt to type and use a duplicator for a further 2 years. She then moved to Willis Faber and Dumas and Insurance Company in the City.
After she was married and had started a family Rose became a full time Mum as the children grew up she worked as a waitress on a part time basis. She then decided she needed a ‘proper job’ and so she became a Nursing Auxiliary working 2 nights a week at Herts and Essex Hospital where she remained until she retired in the early 1980s.
Hobbies and Pastimes
Rose was always a busy and community minded person.
Rose had many interests throughout her life some of which started when she was young and continued into adulthood.
She always enjoyed writing and receiving letters in fact that was how her relationship with Frank started as pen pals when Frank was in the Fleet Air Arm.
As a child Rose joined the Girls Life Brigade (now the Girls Brigade) where she enjoyed the wide variety of activities that were available to her. As a result of this experience she became Captain of her own group in Sawbridgeworth.
She was a keen sewer and knitter and made all of the Wedding Dresses for Janice, Deborah and Denises weddings. She then rekindled this hobby when the grandchildren came along making baby clothing etc.
In the late 1980s Rose and Frank became members of Sawbridgeworth Bowls Club where she took part in many competitions up to County level and was Ladies Captain for several seasons. She also passed on her love of bowls onto other people by coaching new members.
As she became less able to compete at the level she wanted to she became an active member of the Hailey Centre taking part in many of the activities on offer and going on various trips and holidays with them.
She also enjoyed theatre trips and meetings at the Ladies Group at High Wych.
Holidays
Rose enjoyed going on holidays and for days out with the family and later with Frank when the girls had grown up.
All of the children have fond memories of the annual holiday to Broadstairs in Kent.
As the family got older they ventured further afield to Yugoslavia and Spain.
Rose had a real love of the sun and together with Frank she continued to go abroad until recently in particular they loved their time in a small hotel in Turkey where they became part of the owners ‘extended’ family.
